Posts

Bone Graft, Sinus Lifts & More

Image
Why Do We Need Additional Surgeries Before Dental Implants? The biggest challenge in placing dental implants is finding enough bone to support the implants. Placing dental implants  is not always as straightforward as one would like. The biggest challenge with placing dental implants is finding sufficient bone to support the implants. If there isn’t enough bone to support your dental implants, then adjunct bone augmentation surgeries are required to restore your bone prior to placing implants. The exact treatment required depends on where the implants are being placed and how much existing bone you have within that region. Here are some examples of common surgeries performed in conjunction with dental implant placement: Bone Graft Bone graft is the most common treatment used in conjunction with dental implant placement. Function of bone graft is to help fill in voids to allow your own bone to properly grow and lock the dental implants in place. Often times, bone graft is pla
27 comments
Read more

Am I a Good Candidate For Teeth Whitening?

Image
Why do Teeth Turn Yellow? Teeth turn yellow because of either stain or enamel loss. There are two basic reasons why our teeth turn yellow: (1) They get stained (2) They lose their outer protective layer, known as enamel Here are some examples of what causes teeth to change color and turn yellow: Plaque & Tartar Buildup It could be that your teeth are simply darker because there is too much plaque buildup on them. A simple dental cleaning can remove this buildup and fix your problem giving you a whiter and brighter smile. If you haven't seen a dentist in a long time, a dental cleaning should be your first step towards achieving whiter teeth. Tobacco Products Nicotine, cigarette tar and other tobacco products stain your teeth and turn them yellow. The longer you've been smoking, the darker and yellower your teeth will appear. Foods & Drinks Food products containing certain additives can stain and darken our teeth. For instance, drinking coffee and tea
2 comments
Read more

What Are Dental Cavities?

Image
What is a Cavity? Dental cavity is a result of acids produced by oral bacteria Dental cavity is a hole created on your tooth as a result of acids produced by oral bacteria. Cavity formation starts off by bacteria sticking to plaque which has accumulated on your teeth surfaces. These harmful bacteria produce an acidic byproduct which slowly dissolves away your tooth structure resulting in dental cavities. If you suspect you have a cavity, you should go visit a dentist immediately.  What Causes Dental Cavities? Three things are required before a cavity can be formed:  Bacteria Sugar Tooth First, the bacteria must attach themselves to the plaque gathered on your teeth. Once attached, these bacteria process sugars in your diet. This results in a harmful acidic byproduct which gradually destroys your tooth structure. As your tooth structure is destroyed, a cavity is now formed on your tooth.  At What Age am I at Risk for Cavities? Cavities can arise at any age, young or
3 comments
Read more

Symptoms of Gum Disease

Image
What is Gum Disease? Gum disease is the infection of gums and bone supporting your teeth Gum disease is the infection of gums and bones which support your teeth. Gum disease is a serious dental disease which affects multiple teeth and should be treated by a dentist as soon as possible. If left untreated, gum disease causes your gums and supporting bone structure to shrink, causing bleeding gums and tooth sensitivity. In the most advanced cases of gum disease, your teeth become loose due to a lack of supporting bone structure and you will eventually lose them. What are the Stages of Gum Disease? There are two stages of gum disease: Gingvitis and Periodontits. Gingivitis is the earlier stage of gum disease where the infection is still localized to your gum tissue and has not spread to the surrounding bone. Periodontitis is the more advanced stage of gum disease where infection has spread beyond the gums and to your supporting bone structure. The two stages of gum disease are
26 comments
Read more

Common Problems with Dentures

Image
Denture Problems Dentures are removable prosthesis and go in and out of your mouth Leaving gaps in your mouth is never a good idea and can lead to serious medical and dental problems. Wearing dentures  gives you something to chew on while at the same time protecting your jaws and facial muscles. However, since dentures are removable prosthesis, meaning that they go in and out of your mouth, they come with their fair share of problems. Here are some of the most common denture problems that you need to be mindful of if it’s your first time wearing dentures:  Dentures can be Uncomfortable Getting used to having a foreign object in your mouth takes some getting used to. This is especially true if it’s your first time wearing dentures. If your dentures are too long or unstable, they can cut into your gum tissue. This creates sore lesions which requires adjustment from your dentist to fix.  Eating Becomes Compromised Dentures cover lots of gum tissue which also happens to be th
4 comments
Read more

Implant-Supported Dentures (Overdentures)

Image
Wh at are Implant-Supported Dentures (Overdentures)? Implant-supported denture with 4 dental implants. Implant-supported dentures , also referred to as overdentures, are dentures which anchor onto several dental implants . Implant-supported dentures are a great solution for denture wearers who want a more secure denture but can’t quite afford full mouth implant restoration or all-on-four teeth . Typically, 2 or 4 dental implants are placed in each arch to help anchor dentures in place. The denture locks onto these implants, as opposed to sitting on the gums, and is better secured in its place. Overdentures feel more secure as compared to traditional dentures. They rock less during chewing and talking and are geneally more comfortable. Here are some other benefits of overdentures:  Effective By placing just a few dental implants, you can better secure your denture in its place. Anchoring your denture onto dental implants can help you eat, chew and function better. Keep in min
21 comments
Read more

What is the Purpose of a Crown?

Image
What is a Dental Crown?  Crowns restore severely damaged teeth to original form A crown , also known as cap , is a dental prosthesis that is used to restore severely damaged teeth back to their original format. Crowns protect the portion of your tooth which is sitting above the gums to seal off bacteria and protect against further damage. Crowns are very useful in dentistry and have many implications. Here are some instance where crowns are useful in dentistry: Restoring Severely Damaged Teeth Teeth with large cracks or deep fractures need a crown to prevent the damage from getting worse. Similarly, teeth with large cavities need a crown since fillings stress and break the tooth, so placing a crown is preferred over a filling. Crowns restore your teeth back to their original format and protect against further damage, infection and heavy bite forces. Patients who have worn down their teeth due to aggressive grinding may have to place crowns on multiple teeth, sometimes even
25 comments
Read more

Why Are All-on-Four Teeth So Popular?

Image
What are all-on-four teeth? All-on-four teeth give you permanent teeth on top of 4 implants. All-on-four teeth is a set of permanent teeth which sit on top of four dental implants. The name itself originates from the concept that an entire set of teeth, typically 12 to 14 total teeth, is loaded onto just four individual dental implants. All-on-four teeth are not to be confused with dentures. They are made from Porcelain or Zirconia and the teeth are fixed, meaning that you can not remove the teeth from your mouth. Why are All-on-four Teeth so Popular? All-on-four teeth are made from either porcelain or zirconia. If you are missing all of your teeth, you have several different treatment options: Complete dentures; Dentures anchored onto dental implants (overdenture); All-on-four teeth; or Full dental implants with crowns & bridges attached. All-on-four teeth are a great compromise of cost and value. Here are some of the reasons why so many patients choose all-on
30 comments
Read more

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Image
What is Cosmetic Dentistry? Cosmetic dentistry can enhance your smile and beauty Cosmetic dentistry is dentistry with focus on improving the appearance of your teeth and gums to enhance your smile and beauty. Cosmetic dentists concentrate on straightening and whitening your teeth to correct imperfections in your smile. Why Seek Cosmetic Dentistry? Different people have different reasons for seeking cosmetic dentistry. Some do it because they were born with a less than perfect smile and want to fix their concerns. Others want to reverse the damage done to their teeth over the years due to wear-and-tear or possibly an accident. Still o thers choose to seek cosmetic dentistry to improve their overall appearance and get that perfect white, straight set of teeth they've been dreaming of. Whatever your reason may be, cosmetic dentistry has a viable solution for you to enhance your smile. How Does a Dentist Become a Cosmetic Dentist? There’s no special certificate or bo
31 comments
Read more

Causes of Bad Breath

Image
Causes of Bad Breath Permanent Bad Breath Could Be Caused By an Underlying Medical or Dental Issue It's difficult to admit that you may have bad breath, also known as halitosis . However, bad breath is more common than you may think, affecting a quarter of the population at some point in their life. So what causes bad breath and how can you fix it? Sources of bad breath could be long-lasting or temporary. Permanent bad breath is typically due to an underlying medical or dental issue. Temporary bad breath is typically the result of your diet, dehydration or smelly foods like onion or garlic. It is important to identify the source of your halitosis in order to resolve the problem. Here is a list of most common causes of bad breath: Dental Causes of Bad Breath Majority of bad breath cases originate from plaque and tartar accumulation on your teeth and gums which leads to gum disease . As such, it’s not a bad idea to start off your bad breath treatment with a trip to the
18 comments
Read more